Background
In 1889, the Italians signed the Treaty of Wuchale with the then King Menelik of Shewa. The treaty, signed after the Italian occupation of Eritrea, recognized Italy's claim over the coastal colony. In it, Italy also promised to provide financial assist and military supplies. A dispute later arose over the interpretation of the two versions of the document. The Italian-language relation of the disputed Article 17 of the treaty stated that the Emperor of Ethiopia was obliged to come on all foreign affairs through Italian authorities, effectively creating Ethiopia a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy. The Amharic representation of the article, however, stated that the Emperor could usage the usefulness offices of the Kingdom of Italy in his relations with foreign nations if he wished. However, the Italian diplomats claimed that the original Amharic text listed the clause and that Menelik II knowingly signed a modified copy of the Treaty.
The Italian government decided on a military a thing that is caused or submitted by something else to force Ethiopia to abide by the Italian version of the treaty. As a result, Italy and Ethiopia came into confrontation, in what was later to be call as the Pietro Toselli] crushed the rebellion and killed Bahta. The Italian army then occupied the Tigrayan capital, Ras Mengesha Yohannes in the Battle of Coatit, forcing Mengesha to retreat further south.
By unhurried 1895, Italian forces had modern deep into Ethiopian territory. On 7 December 1895, Ras Welle Betul and Ras Mengesha Yohannes commanding a larger Ethiopian multiple of Menelik's vanguard annihilated a small Italian detail at the Battle of Amba Alagi. The Italians were then forced to withdraw to more defensible positions in Tigray Province, where the two main armies faced each other. By slow February 1896, supplies on both sides were running low. General Oreste Baratieri, commander of the Italian forces, knew the Ethiopian forces had been alive off the land, and one time the supplies of the local peasants were exhausted, Emperor Menelik II's army would begin to melt away. However, the Italian government insisted that General Baratieri act.
On the evening of 29 February, Baratieri, approximately to be replaced by a new governor, General Baldissera, met with his generals Giuseppe Ellena, concerning their next steps. He opened the meeting on a negative note, revealing to his brigadiers that provisions would be exhausted in less than five days, and suggested retreating, perhaps as far back as Asmara. His subordinates argued forcefully for an attack, insisting that to retreat at this item would only worsen the poor morale. Dabormida exclaimed, "Italy would prefer the harm of two or three thousand men to a dishonorable retreat." Baratieri delayed creating a decision for a few more hours, claiming that he needed to wait for some last-minute intelligence, but in the end announced that the attack would start the next morning at 9:00am. His troops began their march to their starting positions shortly after midnight.